Antisagging adjunct for flexible beds



March 25 1924.

' R. N. BURBANK ANTISAGGING ADJUNCT FOR FLEXIBLE BEDS Filed May 16 1923' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 25 1924. 1,488,092

R.N.BURBANK ANTISAGGING ADJUNC'I FOR FLEXIBLE BEDS led May 16. 19 2 Sheets$heet 2 Patented Mar... 2%, i224,

RALPH N. BUBJBANK, 0F SQIS'IEBQET, MASSACHUSETTS.

ANTISAGGING- ADJUNGT FOB FLEXIBLE BEDS.

Application filed May 16,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, RALPH N. BURBANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerset, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful improvements in Antisagging Adjuncts for Flexible Beds, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide means for readily making the flexible bottom or spring element of a berth, transom, bed, or couch, sutliciently firm or inflexibl to enable it to be used as a seat without sagging under the weight of a person sitting thereon, said means being adapted to be quickly and conveniently rendered operative to prevent sagging or downward fiexure of the spring element, when the latter is to be used as a seat, and inoperative to permit such fiexure when the bed is to perform its ordinary function.

The invention is embodied in the improved adjunct hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings showing my improved adjunct applied to a yacht,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing an ordinary bed including a flexible bottom, a frame supporting the bottom, and a mattress supported by the bottom, and an antisagging adjunct embodying the invention, said adjunct being in its operative position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, the bed bottom and mattress being removed.

Figure 8 is a section on line 3-'3 of Figure 1.

Figure a is a view similar'to Figure 1, showing the adjunct in its inoperative position.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is an enlargement of a portion of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the adjunct provided with a cushion.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

My improved adjunct may be used with any suitable flexible bed, couch, etc., and, as here shown, is used with a bed comprising a spring wire bottom or spring element 12 of the National type, a frame supporting said bottom and composed of cross bars 13, and side bars 1%, and a mattressl5 supported by the bottom 12. The frame 1923. Serial No. 539,273.

supports the spring element horizontally above a receiving space.

in this instance the frame cross-bars rest on fixed supports 16, within the cabin of a yacht, a portion of the hull of which is shown at 1'7, the cabin floor being shown at 18. The bed is located in a suitable berth structure, of which 19 is the front, and 20, 20 are the ends.

In carrying out my invention, 1 provide a bed of the general construction above described, or of any other suitable construction, with an anti-sagging adjunct comprising a movable practically inflexible platform 21, adapted to bear on the under side of the bed bottom or spring element 12, and supporting means adapted to hold said platform in an operative position contacting with the bed bottom, as shown by Figures 1 and 3, so that downward fiexure of the bottom is pre vented.

The platform is movable to an inoperative position out of contact with the bed bottom, as shown by Figures 4 and 5, so that downward fiexure of the bed bottom is permitted. The platform may be made of one or more boards, its area being sullicient to enable it to contact with any desired area of the bed bottom. Preferably the width of the platform is somewhat less than the width of the bed bottom, as shown by Figure 3.

I prefer to embody the platforn1supporting means in a plurality of crank-rods, each comprising two arms 22, having trunnions 23 journaled in fixed bearings 24 below the bed, and a neck 25, connecting the arms 22, and journaled in bearings 26 on the platform. In this instance, the bearings 2d are .formed in the side bars 24* of a supporting frame which includes transeverse spacing bars 2 2* as shown by Figure 2.

The arms 22 are adapted to swing to substantially vertical positions operatively supporting the platform, as shown by Figure 1, and to substantially horizontal positions inoperatively supporting the platform, as shown by Figure 4.

l provide locking means adapted to confine the platform in its operative position, said means being preferably embodied in a lug 27, fixed to one of the arms 22, and a brace 28, pivoted at 29 to one of the frame bars 24". The brace is provided with a slot or opening 30, arranged to engage the log 27 when the arm 22 is in a vertical position. The lug is provided with a stop flange 31,

arranged to prevent lateral displacement of the brace from the lug.

To permit the convenient movement or shifting of the platform to its operative and inoperative position, I provide a crank 32 having a torque-transmitting engagement with one of the trunnions 23. Said trunnion may have a squared portion or shank adapted to be engaged by asquared socket in the hub portion of the crank 32. A quarter turn of the crank is suflicient to move the platform from either position to the other. The crank is preferably removable so that it may be stowed away when not required.

The platform 21 may be provided with a cushion 33 (Figure '7), which constitutes the portion of the platform contacting with the bed bottom.

It is obvious that an adjunct embodying my invention may be applied to a bed or couch in any apartment, and may form an adjunct of a portable bed or couch. The platform 21, and the described means for supporting the same, constitute a converting adjunct for use with any spring bed which includes a downwardly yielding spring ele-- ment 12 and a frame horizontally supporting said element above a receiving space, the adjunct being adapted to convert the entire bed into a practically unyielding seat. The said adjunct is formed to enter said space, and the supporting means is adapted to support the platform in a depressed position, out of contact with the spring element,

'so that the latter is free to yield under the weight of a recumbent occupant, and to rigidly support the platform in a raised position, in contact with the spring element, so that the bed is converted into an unyield- 7 ing or non-sagging seat, adapted to supporta sitting occupant or occupants.

I claim:

1. A converting adjunct for use with a spring bed which includes a downwardly yielding spring element and a frame horizont ally supporting said element above a receiving space; said adjunct being formed to enter said space, and comprising a practically inflexible platform, and supporting means adapted to support the platform in a depressed position, out of contact with the spring element, so that the latter is free to yield, and adapted also to support the platform rigidly in a raised position in contact with said element, so that the bed is converted into an unyielding seat.

2. A converting ad unct for use with a. spring bed which includes downwardly yielding spring element and a frame horizontally supporting said element above a receiving space; said ad unct being formed to enter said space, and comprising a practically inflexible platform, supporting means adapted to support the platfoni in a depressed position, out of contact with the spring element, so that the latter is free to yield, and adapted also to support the platform rigidly in a raised position in contact with said element, so that the bed is converted into an unyielding seat; and operating means associated with said support-- ing means for depressing and raising said platform.

3. A converting adjuct for use with a spring bed which includes a downwardly yielding spring element and a frame horizontally supporting said element above a receiving space; said adjunct being formed to enter said space, and comprising a practically inflexible platform, supporting means adapted to support the platform in a depressed position, out of contact with the spring element, so that the latter is free to yield, and adapted also to support the platform rigidly in a raised position in contact with said element, so that the bed is converted into an unyielding seat, and locking means adapted to render said adjunct immovable when the platform is in a raised position.

at. A converting adjunct for use with a spring bed which includes a downwardly yielding spring element and a frame horizontally supporting said element above a receiving space; said adjunct being formed to enter said space, and comprising a practically inflexible platform, supporting means adapted to support the platform in a depressed position, out of contact with the spring element, so that the latter is free to yield, and adapted also tosupport the platform rigidly in a raised position in contact with said element, so that the bed is converted into an unyielding seat, and locking to a fixed element of said supporting means, and adapted to separably engage a movable part of said adjunct and render the same immovable when the platform is in a raised position. i j V 5. A converting adjunct for use with a spring bed which includes a downwardly yielding spring element and a frame hori- Zont-ally supporting said element above a receiving space; said adjunct being formed to enter said space, and comprising a practically inflexible platform, and supporting means adapted to support the platform in a depressed position, out of contact with the spring element, so that the latter is freeto yield, and adapted also to support the platform rigidly in a raised position in contact with said element, so that the bed is converted into an unyielding seat, said supporting means including lined bearings located in the lower portion of said space, a plurality of crank rods comprising arms journaled in said bearings and necks connecting said arms and journaled in bear ings on the platform, said arms being adapted to swing to substantially horizontal positions supporting the platform in a depressed position, and to upright positions rigidly supporting the platform in a raised positlon.

6. A converting adjunct for use with a spring bed which includes a downwardly yielding spring element and a frame horizontally supporting said element above a receiving space; said adjunct being formed to enter said space, and comprising a practically inflexible platform, and supporting means adapted to support the platform in a depressed position, out of contact with the spring element, so that the latter is free to yield, and adapted also to support the platform rigidly in a raised position in contact with said element, so that the bed is con 20 verted into an unyielding seat, said supporting means including fixed bearings located in the lower portion of said space, a plurality of crank rods comprising arms journaled in said bearings and necks connecting said arms and journaled in bearings on the platform, said arms being adapted to swing to substantially horizontal positions supporting the platform in a depressed position, and to upright positions rigidly supporting the platform in a raised position, one of said arms being provided with a lug, the said adjunct comprising also a swinging brace pivoted to a fixed element of said supporting means, and adapted to separably engage said lug when the arms are upright, and thereby render the adjunct immovable.

In testimony whereof I have afixed my signature.

RALPH N. BURBANK. 

